Coral Springs Officer Will Not Be Disciplined For Punching Teen

A Coral Springs police officer caught on camera punching a teen during an incident at an area mall last week will not be disciplined after video of the incident gained national attention.

Coral Springs officials said no policy was violated when Officer Paul James was seen striking the 14-year-old female several times while attempting to subdue her at the Coral Springs Mall last Thursday.

James could be seen on camera hitting the teen three times in an effort to get her to release her arms and be handcuffed. 

The girl’s mother has told several media outlets she does not think the actions were justified, but police told the paper she had not filed a complaint as of Monday.

Mall security called police saying around 30 teens were at the mall. Responding officers gave trespassing warnings and escorted the teens off of the property, according to an arrest report.

 Security later called the police back after some of the teens returned, with an officer saying the 14-year-old began “causing a scene” while refusing to leave.

Police say the teen refused to be handcuffed and later kicked an officer as she was being placed in a police car. She was charged with several counts, including battery on an officer, and has been banned from the mall for a year.

Officers are searching for surveillance cameras from individual stores to see if they can find out more information. The mall does not have such cameras and Coral Springs Police do not use body cameras.


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